Enter the "Sandy Bridge" 32nm architecture, which marks the introduction of the 2nd generation Intel Core processors. Sandy Bridge is designed to be a two-chip platform consisting of a processor and Platform Controller Hub (PCH). It incorporates an Integrated Display Engine, Processor Graphics, and Integrated Memory Controller. However with Sandy Bridge we are not just getting new processors, but an entirely new platform that will be backed up by new chipsets (P67, H67, H61) using the new LGA1155 socket.After numerous rumors and even formal announcements throughout 2010, we all knew Intel was launching their next-gen CPUs in time for CES 2011, meaning it was slated to happen the first week of the New Year. But before we delve deeper into Sandy Bridge details and performance, let's step back to 2006, the year in which Intel transitioned from the Pentium branding for its flagship desktop CPUs and turned to the "Core" processors.The Core series started with the Core 2 Duo which was manufactured using a 65nm process. The Core 2 Duo E6700 laid waste to all that came before it, making high-end Pentium 4 and Pentium D processors look pokey, while the Athlon 64 range that at the time was topping Intel's best offerings was also left well behind. In fact, it took several years for AMD to recover and show us something really worthy of contention, the Phenom II X4 range didn't debut until early 2009.